Oregon and the Workplace » correctionshttp://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/croet
Mon, 14 Aug 2017 23:45:40 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.15PTSD in Corrections officershttp://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/croet/2012/04/01/ptsd-in-corrections-officers/
http://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/croet/2012/04/01/ptsd-in-corrections-officers/#commentsSun, 01 Apr 2012 22:36:16 +0000http://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/croet/?p=828Read More]]>The lead story in Sunday’s (April 1, 2012) Oregonian is on PTSD rates in Oregon Corrections Workers, citing 1 in 3 corrections workers have symptoms of PTSD and that 97% have reported witnessing violence, injury or death. This is based on survey research conducted by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, a nonprofit. To read the article, click or enter:

Survey research on work conditions that may affect the health of corrections workers will be conducted in 2000 Oregon corrections workers by Drs. Leslie Hammer and Charlotte Fritz of Portland State University (PSU), beginning this Spring.

Also mentioned in the article is a new research project being conducted by Dr. Kerry Kuehl of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) designed to improve the health of Corrections Officers in Oregon. This project is part of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center and is also part funded by CROET at OHSU.

While many occupations have become safer in recent years, many jobs remain that may be unhealthy for workers. The nature of some jobs, such as those that are primarily sedentary, reduce opportunities for exercise or just walking which maintains good personal health. Improving safety, occupational health and personal wellness is the task of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center that is conducting randomized controlled trial (the strongest science) intervention research such as Dr. Kerry Kuehl’s project in corrections workers.

Dr. Leslie Hammer is the Associate Director of the Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center and is Director of PSU’s Occupational Health Psychology program. The Oregon Healthy WorkForce Center website is at:

Dr Gilmartin teaches that law enforcement professionals are at risk for emotional disorders due to a constant state of hypervigilance. Hypervigilance is an enhanced or overloaded state of sensory sensitivity to detect threats and is an essential part of being a good cop. It is required to keep the officer and the public safe from the 3% of society that have criminal intent and ability to cause harm. It is a police officer’s job to be cynical, to not trust anyone, to always expect the worse, and this creates the state of hypervigilence which can create a neuropsychiatriac imbalance. The emotional investment and constant level of hypervigilence on the job required to maintain safety on the job for themselves, fellow officers, and the public creates a high during the work shift, but then it creates an opposite “low” off shift or when not working. The lack of understanding for this off shift ‘low” creates depression and other problems. This occupational-induced condition, which is unique to law enforcement officers, can lead to working too much overtime, sleep disorders, incremental weight gain, substance abuse, high incidence of broken relationships, and high suicide rates.

Dr. Gilmartin’s recommendation for emotional survival is three-fold: responsibility of personal life, increase in organizational relationships, and ethical decision-making. To overcome the cycle of highs and lows, lifestyle changes involving greater investment off-shift are required. The importance of exercising, committing to activities, and off-duty relationships are emphasized. To find out more about this topic and his work, read Dr. Gilmartin’s book, Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement.